15 ODD PHOTOS from a mad, mad world

A man slips off the "gostra", a pole covered in grease, during the week-long celebrations for the religious feast of St Julian, patron of the town of St Julian's, outside Valletta, Malta.

In the traditional "gostra", a game stretching back to the Middle Ages, young men, women and children have to make their way to the top of a pole and try to uproot one of the flags to win prizes. From May to September in Malta, there is hardly any weekend when a town or a village is not celebrating the feast of its patron saint or other saints revered in different churches.

15 ODD PHOTOS from a mad, mad world

A Squirrel Monkey peers into a photographer's lens during a photocall at London Zoo in central London. The annual weigh-in, which includes waist and height measurements, is conducted for the general well-being of the animals, and to help detect pregnancies in endangered species, as part of the Zoo's international breeding programmes.

15 ODD PHOTOS from a mad, mad world

Chinese artist Zhou Jie (left) and her boyfriend Lian Xi hug each other to sleep on an unfinished iron wire bed, one of her sculpture works, after midnight at Beijing Art Now Gallery, in Beijing.

Zhou started her art project titled "36 Days" on August 9, in which she would live inside an exhibition hall with an unfinished iron wire bed, some iron wire sculptures in the shape of stuffed animal dolls, a certain amount of food and her mobile phone for 36 days. According to Zhou, the entire process is open to visitors and she may also interact with them.

15 ODD PHOTOS from a mad, mad world

Participants slide down on a chute on a float to cross a 26-metre long pool of water and foam during a competition at the Bobrovy Log Ski Resort near the Siberian city of Krasnoyarsk. The annual competition marks the end of the short summer season at the Siberian resort.

15 ODD PHOTOS from a mad, mad world

Joanna Parker waits to enter the World Bog Snorkelling Championships at Waen Rhydd bog on the outskirts of LLanwrtyd Wells, Powys, Wales. The annual event, where competitors swim in a marshy trench with flippers and a snorkel, brings together participants from all over the world, including France, Germany, Australia, New Zealand, the US and Canada.

15 ODD PHOTOS from a mad, mad world

People look at French artist Clement Briend's photographic light installation "Divine Trees", which features images of divine figures highly revered in Asian cultures projected on trees towering over bystanders, during a media preview of the Singapore Night Festival in Singapore.

15 ODD PHOTOS from a mad, mad world

Steen Mondrup (right), 34, and his twin brother Peder in a wheelchair participate in the KMD Ironman Copenhagen challenge August 24, 2014. Both were born three months prematurely but Peder suffered from a lack of oxygen, which left him with the medical condition of spasticity. Both brothers are competing as a team called Team Tvilling (Team Twins) with Steen pulling Peder in a rubber boat during the 3.8-km (2.36-mile) swim. The twins rode a double bicycle during the 180-km (112-mile) ride, and Steen pushed Peder in a wheelchair during the 42.2-km (26.22-mile) run.

15 ODD PHOTOS from a mad, mad world

Xie Shuiping (right) is punched by a man as part of a challenge in Nanchang, Jiangxi province. Xie, 48, has been challenging people to punch his belly for more than ten years. He has promised to give the challenger 1,000 yuan ($163) if they can make him fall or step back from being punched but only one person has managed to do so thus far, according to local media.

15 ODD PHOTOS from a mad, mad world

A bull with its horns set on fire is seen during the El Novillo de Bombas festival in Mira, north of Quito, Ecuador. Thousands of residents in Mira participate in the yearly event which originated from Spain many centuries ago. Different religious celebrations also take place during the festival.

15 ODD PHOTOS from a mad, mad world

Dancers from Boston Ballet ride a swan boat on the pond in the Public Garden, ahead of the company's performances of the ballet "Swan Lake," in Boston, Massachusetts. The dancers on the swan boat include Eris Mezha (top left) who will dance the role of Siegfried and Ashley Ellis (top right) who will dance the role of Odette.